Lions Tour 2013: the Wallabies have saved their best performance for the last Test, says Robbie Deans

Updated
Sat Jul 06 09:49:31 EST 2013

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Bring it on: Robbie Deans is confident his Wallabies side will be even stronger against the Lions tonight.

William West, AFP

Australia coach Robbie Deans believes the Wallabies have saved their best for last as they prepare for the third and deciding Test against the British and Irish Lions in Sydney tonight.

The Lions, seeking their first series victory in 16 years, are looking to stop the Wallabies' momentum following a come-from-behind 16-15 win in Melbourne last weekend, after the tourists won the opening encounter 23-21 in Brisbane a fortnight ago.

If you look at the second Test, we started to get some rhythm. Combinations started to kick in. The Lions will intend to deny us that momentum, but either way this will be our best performance.

Robbie Deans

The Lions have not won a series since beating South Africa in 1997 and lost the last series in Australia 12 years ago after winning the opening game, only to lose the final two Tests.

Tonight's showdown again promises another ferocious battle at the breakdown with French referee Romain Poite expected to be strict in his rulings at the scrum.

Deans has talked up the Wallabies' chances of victory, pointing to the greater cohesion among the combinations after playing two demanding Tests together.

"This will be our best performance, without a doubt. I think that's been coming," Deans said.

"If you look at the second Test, we started to get some rhythm. Combinations started to kick in. The Lions will intend to deny us that momentum, but either way this will be our best performance.

"We feel that the combination of experience and fresh legs that George Smith brings is the right way to go. His expertise in the contact zone, where timing, judgement and physicality is everything, is going to be critical."

Best of Britain primed and ready for battle

But Lions forwards coach Graham Rowntree declared that the best of Britain and Ireland are primed for the clash.

"Seeing how we've trained all week, crikey we're ready for this battle," Rowntree said on Friday.

"We've got to go out and give it everything because this is the biggest game of our lives, as players and coaches.

Seeing how we've trained all week, crikey we're ready for this battle. We've got to go out and give it everything because this is the biggest game of our lives, as players and coaches.

Lions forwards coach Graham Rowntree

"They threw everything at us and beat us by a point last week. We didn't get our game going, we know that, and there is a load more to come from us.

"The guys are desperate to win - this is grand final rugby, the last throw of the dice with everything to play for."

The Lions are banking on a successful Welsh formula - Davies and Roberts are among a sizeable contingent of Welsh players from this year's Six Nations championship-winning team, with an 11th on the bench.

Welsh lock Alun Wyn Jones will captain the Lions for the first time in the absence of Sam Warburton.

The last time Wales had 10 men in a Lions team was the first Test against Australia in Brisbane in 1950, which the Lions won 19-6.